Scientists have synthesized an artificial stem cells

An international group of scientists have developed a synthetic stem cells that have an increased stability compared to natural. The results of the study presented in the journal Nature Communications.

Stem cells are immature cells that can renew themselves and turn into cells of different tissues and organs. These properties allow the use of stem cells in treatment of diseases: for example, their transplantation (e.g. bone marrow) triggers the recovery mechanism adjacent cells. However, donor stem cells can be rejected by the body and require very careful handling during storage.

Alternatively, scientists from the University of North Carolina and other institutions synthesized stem cells, which are less demanding in terms of content. For this they made kitchenliving microparticles (CMMP) of biodegradable and biocompatible copolymers of lactic and glycolic acids (PLGA). Then, progenitor cells, human cardiomyocytes, they removed the growth factors added to the PLGA and coated particles with a membrane.

Artificial cells was tested on human cardiomyocytes. The analysis showed that the synthetic biomaterial, like traditional stem cells, stimulates the growth of muscle tissue. After that, cells were transplantability mice model of myocardial infarction: the effect was comparable to “normal” stem cells. Due to the structure of the CMMP cannot replicate, which reduces the risk of developing cancer as a result of stem cell therapy.

According to the authors, synthetic cells are similar to a vaccine. Natural membrane allows them to remain undetected for immunity, contact with cardiac muscle tissue and releasing growth factors, stimulating recovery. They are also resistant to extremes of temperatures (storage) and can be synthesized from other materials. Now stem cells are obtained only from cells of the recipient.